Electrical coupler



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

G. D. BURTON.

ELEGTRIGAL GOUPLER.

No. 343,515. Patented June 3,1886.

(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. D. BURTON.

ELEGTRIGAL GOUPLER.

No. 343,515. Patented June 8, 1886.

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UNITED STATES PAT NT @rrrcn.

GEORGE D. BURTON, OF NE\V IPSiVIGII, NEV HAMPSHIRE.

ELECTRICAL COUPLER.

' SPECIFICATION forming part 01 Letters Patent No. 343,515, dated June8,1886.

Application filed February 16, 1886. Serial No.192,137.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE D. BURTON. a citizen of the United States,residing at New Ipswich, county of Hillsborough, in the State of NewHampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inElectrical Apparatns for Lighting and Signaling on Railway- Oars, ofwhich the following is so full, clear, and exact a description as willenable one skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to makeand use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in means of making electricalconnections in condnctors carried by railway-trains for the purpose ofsupplying electrical currents for lighting and signaling. It isdesirable to form a means of connecting the wires carried by each coachelectrically together, with little additional labor beyond what isrequired in coup-' ling the cars and the air-brake pipes, and with aView to economizing in this respect my invention provides means foreffecting a connection of the electric Wires by the act of connectpipe;Fig. 3, a detached sectional view of the contact devices; Fig. 4, aviewlooking down upon one side of said devices; Fig. 5, a detachedperspective view of the opposite side of said devices; Fig.6, a detachedperspective view of a portion of the contact device; Figs. 7 and 8,detached perspective views'ot' the several parts of the same, and Fig. 9a perspective view of the contact device complete.

The letters A and A designate, respectively, the adjacent ends of therubber tubes used to connect the iron pipes carried by railwaycoachesfor the purpose of conducting the compressed air by'which the brakes areoperated. These sections of tubing or hose are each provided with theusual coupling-irons, consisting of shells B, secured to the respect- Nomodel.)

the opposite ends of the caps O, I locate my contact device. This deviceconsists of an annulus, E, constructed of vulcanized rubber or othernon-conducting material, across which spans a bridge-bar, F, formed bypreference integrally therewith. Upon this annulus and bridge-bar isfitted a metallic frame, G, of corresponding shape, the function ofwhich is to prevent the cap 0 from abrading the annulus when the cap isscrewed home and its inner ends bind against the annulus. Projectingfrom one side of the bar F is a short sleeve, H, within which is fitteda stem of a contactbutton, I, a tubular sleeve, J, being fitted aroundthe said stem and within the sleeve H, and the hole in the bar F, ornot, as desired. Upon the cross-piece of the frame G is placed a shortarm. K, of conducting material, and an insulated washer, L, the screw Mpassing through them and entering a threaded aperture in the stem of thebutton I, whereby the several parts are secured together. The inner faceof the button-head is recessed, as is also the opposite side of thecross-bar F, and the spiral spring N is fitted to said recesses andabout the stem ahd the sleeve H, the function of which spring is toadmit of the but tons yielding to each other, and yet always maintaininga positive Contact.

The letters 0 and O designate the sections of the wire which connectwith one pole of the battery, as the positive, and these sections areelectrically connected, as by entering a hole in the shells B, whereby,when the shells are engaged in the usual manner, the integrity of onebranch of the circuit is established.

The letters P and P designate sections of the wire,which connect withthe other pole of the battery, and these sections are connected in thefollowing manner: The wire P, after passing through a notch formed inthe projection Q of the shell B, is stripped of its insulating material,and then passes through a like notch in the annulus E, (see Fig. 3,) andits projecting end electrically connected with the arm K. Inasmuch asthe contact-buttons move back and forth, as above suggested, the

connections between the wires P and P and the arms K should be yielding,and to supply this necessity I have provided the spiral springs, one endof each of which is in electrical contact with the respective wires,while the other ends bear against the respective arms K. Thus it will beobserved that when the shells are coupled together the faces of thecontaet-buttons are made to impinge and the springs N to act to keepthem in close contact, the current passing from one section of wirethrough one of the arms K,thence through the shank of the screw to thebutton,and thence to the other button. At the opposite end of the hose,where it permanently connects with the iron pipe, I provide the metalliccoupling R with an insulated bushing, S, which screws into the coupling,and which itself carries a screw, T, preferably of metal through whichpasses the wire, the same being stripped by preference of its insulatingmaterial at this point, in order to effect a closer joint to prevent theescape of the compressed air. The wire then passes on through the car tothe other end.

The screw M is not in contact, but is insulated from the washer L andfrom the crossbar of the frame G, as seen in Fig. 3, the black lines ateither side of the screw indicating some insulating material. Thisprevents the current from reaching the cap G through the frame.

It will be observed that my device can be applied to all the couplingsnow in use with little or no alteration.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with the couplings, of the non-conducting annuli,one within either coupling and held in place by the couplingcap, andprovided each with a yielding contact-button, and electrical conductorscon tained within the couplings and electrically connected with thebuttons.

2. The combination, with the couplings and electrical conductors inelectrical connection therewith, of other electrical conductorsinsulated therefrom, and non-conducting annuli secured to the couplingsand carrying yielding contact-buttons, with which the last-namedelectrical conductors are electrically connected.

3. The combination, with a coupling and its cap, of an annulus ofnon'conducting material having a metallic frame on one side againstwhich the cap fits, and resting on the other side against anon-conducting washer, and provided with a yielding contact-button.

4. The combination, with a coupling having a screw-cap and anon-conducting washer, of a non-conducting annulus fitted between saidcap and washer, and having a metallic frame adjacent to the cap,andprovided with a projecting bar and a spring interposed between the barand button-head, and an arm adapted to connect with the electricalconductor.

5. The combination, with a coupling, of a non-conducting annulus havinga bridge-bar, a contact button fitted to said bar, and a springinterposed between the bar and the button head.

6. The combination, with a coupling, of a non-conducting annulus havinga bridge-bar, a contact-button whose shank is fitted to said bar, an arminsulated from the frame, and a screw for connecting it with the button,and a spring interposed between the bar and button.

7. The combination, with a coupling and a bushing ofinsulating material,of ascrcw fitted to said bushing and an electrical conductor passingthrough the screw.

8. The combination, with a coupling, of a non-conducting annulus, ayielding contactbutton carried by the annulus, and an arm carried by thebutton, an electrical conductor, and a spring connecting said conductorwith said arm.

9. The combination, with a coupling, of an annulus, a yielding contactbutton, and an electrical conductor connected with said button throughthe medium of a spring, whereby contact between the button and theconductor is maintained notwithstanding the movements of the button.

In testimony that I claim the above I sign in the presence of twowitnesses.

GEO. D. BURTON. lVitnesses:

WILLIAM M. NASH, E. F. Pnmrms.

